Relationships

Expectations in the new grandparent relationship are one of the most important conversations to have with the new parents and ideally before they become parents.

If you’re a long-distance grandma and the “other” grandma is local, it can be hard not to feel jealous. Try to remind yourself that our grandchildren thrive with the love of many grandparents and learn ways to stay engaged from a distance.

When a new grandma has unrealistic expectations and overly emotional responses when she is disappointed, she is not being respectful of her grandchild’s parents. Advice columnist Amy Dickinson warns her that she could end up creating a highly charged and toxic dynamic that will damage her relationships.

The mother and daughter-in-law relationship can be fragile or tense when the grown man in the middle must show his loyalty to his wife and put his mother second.